LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – One of the more frequent questions answered by the Lake County Recycling Hotline is regarding what a person should do when a neighbor leaves their trash, recycling, and greenwaste bins out at the street after collection day.

The hotline first and foremost suggests that neighbors speak with one another, but not every neighbor is on friendly terms and some people find it difficult to bring up the matter with their neighbors.

To help get the message out, the Lake County Public Services Department asks that all residents be a good neighbor, and remove their recycling, trash, and greenwaste bins from the curb by the end of collection day.

Why is leaving bins on the curb a problem?

Leaving your bins on the curb is unsightly, may encourage others to dump unwanted or illegal materials in your bins (and you're responsible for the contents).

Additionally, leaving bins out may encourage vandalism, theft, or damage to bins and can be a safety issue by blocking pedestrian and bike paths, impeding traffic, and hindering line of sight to driveways and intersections.

It also may cause your neighbors to complain about your actions.

What can you do?

If you plan to be out of town after you have taken the bins to the curb, ask your neighbor to bring in your bins – then offer to return the favor when they are away.

If you have mobility issues due to illness or injury, you can contact your hauler about special walk-up service for an additional fee.

If you are a part-time resident of Lake County, contact the hauler for your area to purchase single-use bags. Place these specially-marked and purchased bags at the curb on collection day or ask a neighbor to take it out with their bins. Recycling can be taken any day of the week to numerous facilities around the county.

What can you do if your neighbor leaves their bins out?

The county has neither regulation against leaving bins out nor staff to resolve this kind of neighborhood issue and therefore encourages residents to discuss their concerns directly with their neighbor to develop positive solutions that work for the entire neighborhood.

However, if a resident feels uncomfortable speaking to their neighbor, the Lake County Public Services Department also has developed, “Be a Good Neighbor, Bring in Your Bins” flyers that can be downloaded from www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us and printed in color or black and white and taped to their bin.

To contact the hauler for your area about special walk-up service or single-use garbage bag collection, contact Lake County Waste Solutions, 707-234-6400 or 1-888-718-4888; South Lake Refuse & Recycling, 707-994-8613; or Lakeport Disposal Inc., 707-263-6080.

For information on more recycling and disposal programs such as the monthly HazMobile events or Bulky Item Pick-Up, please call the Recycling Hotline at 263-1980 or visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club will meet on Saturday, Sept. 11, at noon in the Rose Room at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center in Lucerne.

The senior center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive (corner of 10th and Country Club) in Lucerne.

The special guest speaker for the meeting will be George Spurr, a candidate running for a seat on the Lakeport City Council.

The public is always invited to the regular Democratic Club meetings.

The regular monthly Lake County Democratic Club meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month at noon in the Rose Room at Lucerne Alpine Senior Center.

Membership in the Lake County Democratic Club is open to registered members of the Democratic Party.

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-277-0713 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Democratic Party of Lake County's Web site is www.lakecountydemocrats.org.

NICE, Calif. – Sons of Italy in Nice will hold two events this weekend.

On Saturday, Sept. 4, there will be a flea market with seller tables at $10, sausage or hot dog sandwiches, and drinks for sale. The market will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Sunday, Sept. 5, the group will hold its monthly spaghetti feed from noon to 6 p.m.

You will get a scrumptious Italian meal of red sauce pasta, garlic bread and salad, plus you can add a choice of meatballs or sausages.

Call the day of the event for more information or takeouts, 707-274-2244.

The club is located at 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Goodwill Industries will be accepting donations from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4.

Donations can be dropped off in the parking lot at Bruno's Shop Smart, 355 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

They accept small, portable appliances in working order; books; cassette tapes; cell phones; CD and DVD players; CDs, DVDs and videos (commercial); clothing; computer parts; small, desk-size copiers; computers; electronics; fax machines; furniture; housewares; household items; ink cartridges; jewelry/accessories; linens; monitors; printers; purses/bags/luggage; records; area rugs; scanners; televisions; shoes; stereos; unopened toiletries; toys.

Due to legal requirements or other factors they cannot accept the following: air conditioners; alcoholic beverages; ammunition/explosives; animals; baby items – strollers, furniture and toys; bathroom fixtures; blinds (unless in original boxes); exercise equipment; furniture with stains, tears or holes; hazardous materials (paint, chemicals, poison, etc.); large appliances (refrigerators, stoves/ovens, etc.); large office equipment (copiers, fax machines, etc.); mattresses/box springs; newspapers/magazines; swing sets; tires/wheels; wall to wall carpets and padding; water beds; and windows/doors.

All donations help provide job training for people with disabilities or other barriers to employment

The group thanked Bruno's Property Management and its owner, Bill Brunetti, for the use of the facility's parking lot.

For more information call Jeff Lambdin at 707-462-9660.

Some of the local organic produce available through the Lake County Community Co-op. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Community Co-op announced its modified CSA boxes were sourced from all local organic producers last week.

Produce for the boxes included green bell peppers and Early Girl tomatoes from Bio Farm in Kelseyville, mixed summer squash and Genovese Basil from Leonardis Organics in Lakeport, Russian Banana potatoes from Love Farms in Kelseyville and Simka Plums from Clover Creek Family Farm in Upper Lake.

These local producers, as well as Full Moon Farm, Dancing Tree People Organics and Main Street Bakery, have individual items purchasable through the co-op's new online ordering system, FOODS, increasing member options for Lake County grown and produced food.

The co-op's weekly modified CSA (community supported agriculture) boxes are sourced from local organic growers first, regional producers second and organic distributors lastly.

JoAnn Saccato, chair of the Lake County Community Co-op, was delighted with the news, "Due to our inclement Spring weather this year, most of our growers experienced a challenging and late harvest season. To finally have our boxes completely sourced local, which we haven't been able to do since Winter, is just exciting. It brings us closer to our vision of a sustainable local food system."

She further espoused the benefits to the environment, economy and community when the boxes can be sourced solely from Lake County farmers, and added, "Our local producers are doing what they can to increase their variety and lengthen the growing season in Lake County so we can benefit more from their efforts. We wholeheartedly appreciate that!"

Additionally, the co-op announced a new drop point in Upper Lake replacing the original drop at Olivia's Organics.

Lake County Wine Studio, at 9505 No. 1 Main St. (corner of First and Main), enthusiastically took on the role of drop point for Upper Lake. The studio will be open for pick up of the boxes from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, expanding member opportunities in that area.

The co-op has 10 drop points throughout the county for their weekly produce delivery.

For more information on ordering through the Co-op visit www.lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.

For more information on the Lake County Wine Studio, contact Susan Feiler at 707-275-8030.

Now celebrating almost three years in existence, the Lake County Community Co-op (LCCC) cultivates an evolving community by nurturing values of social, economic and environmental responsibility.

The co-op encourages member input and participation for the continued success of its co-creation. It supports and enhances the local food system while providing a forum for community activities.

Evaluation speech winners Dean Gotham, first place; Sharon Shute, second place; and Louis Rigod, third place. Courtesy photo.

FINLEY, Calif. – Dennis Fordham and Dean Gotham of Toastmasters, Tenacious Talkers, Club No. 8731, recently won the club contest.

Fordham won for a humorous speech and Gotham for evaluation speech.

Each category is judged on specific goals that need to be met during competition. The highest ranking contestant wins in their category.

“Going through speech contests helps Toastmaster members gain more experience speaking in front of unfamiliar audiences,” said Sharon Shute, vice president of public relations for the Tenacious Talkers.

The area contest will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 25.

Toastmasters, Contagious Communicators, Club No. 866864 will host the contest at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, 5176 Hill Road East, Lakeport, in the conference room next to the cafeteria. The public is welcome to come and listen to the speakers compete.

Tenacious Talkers meets at 6:15 p.m. each Thursday at 2150 Argonaut Road in Finley.

For more information about the club, call 707-279-0381, Extension 5704 or visit http://tenacioustalkers.freetoasthost.net.

Humorous speech winners Dennis Fordham, first place; Phyllis Hoffman, second place; and Rick White, third place. Courtesy photo.